Preventing Pipes From Freezing
Winter often leads to a rise in plumbing issues related to freezing pipes
. There are many preventative measures you can take to save yourself money, time, and frustration.
As the cold season arrives pick up, wind, drain, and store your hoses in the garage or other storage facility. Check the inside valves that provide water to outdoor hose bibs and close them.
Then, check the corresponding bibs to the indoor values. Turn them on and let the water drain out.
Do not turn off the valve. By leaving the valve on there will be room for any remaining water to expand without breaking the pipes.
Examine your garage for water supply piping. If there are lines present, be sure to keep the garage doors shut as much as possible throughout the winter.
Most kitchen and bathroom water pipes pass behind cabinets, cupboards and walls. Leave the cabinets and cupboards open as much as you can so that the pipes can receive warm air more often.
During the night, turn a faucet on slightly. By allowing it to drip, the water will continue flowing.
If the water keeps flowing, it is much harder for the pipes to freeze. When the weather gets cold enough to cover plants, it will be time to cover your pipes as well.
Preformed pipe sleeves of insulation are designed to protect pipes and are easy to place. They are also a fairly inexpensive way to protect your pipes from freezing.
These pieces can simply be butted into place and taped to make sure they remain there securely. An even more effective option is to cover the pipes in electrical heating tape.
This option is more expensive, but the tape is designed to prevent pipes from freezing. However, make sure that the tape has a UL symbol on it, signifying that it was approved by Underwriters Laboratories.
In addition to the outdoor pipes, do not forget to protect the attic and roof pipes. Plastic pipes, often known as PVC's, are particularly fragile when exposed to cold weather.
If covering the pipes yearly is a huge hassle, consider relocating them or burying them with dirt. However, it is a good idea to consult a plumber when considering moving pipes.
Occasionally, a tap or pipe will freeze. When this happens it is vital that the water is thawed as quickly as possible so that the pipe does not break.
An indication that the pipes or tap has frozen is that nothing comes out when you turn on the taps. When this occurs, call a plumber for assistance.
Sometimes the tap is the only thing that is frozen. If this is the case you can dry to thaw it out with a hair dryer.
This technique will only work if there is no standing water in that particular area. Once the frozen pipe is located, heat a pot of water on the stove.
Dip towels in the hot water and wrap them around the pipe. Start wrapping them as close to the tap as possible and turn on the tap so that the water can drip out as it thaws.
If worse comes to worse and a pipe breaks, turn off the water in your home immediately. This can be done using the main shut-off valve.
Turn the taps on so water can come out if the pipes start to thaw. Then call a plumber for assistance.
In case of problems it is good to be familiar with the placement of the water shut-off valve and how it works. Test is occasionally to make sure that it is working properly should you need to turn off the water.
For most homes, the water shut-off valve is placed by a hose bib at the front of the house. If there is a valve on a pipe coming out of the ground and going into the house, this is usually the shut-off valve.
Older homes often have the shut-off valve placed behind the house. Occasionally, the shut-off valve is in the basement of a home.
Even though it may be difficult to find, be sure to be aware of the location of the shut-off valve in case of an emergency.
by: Terry Daniels
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